In-Class Writing 3/2

The main argument in "The Controversy behind Barbie" is whether or not Barbie is a positive or negative role model for young girls. There are those who believe that Barbie portrays negative female stereotypes and that Barbie is responsible for the poor body image that girls have. And then there are the others that say Barbie is a good role model because she is able to do everything.
The audience is mainly intended to be women, especially those that have had a Barbie. The rhetoric appeals are intended to make them feel one way or another about Barbie.
It seems like feminists hold the first viewpoint because of the way they try and over-analyze a doll and blame all negative female stereotypes on Barbie. The second position seems to be Mattell because it makes Barbie seem like the perfect role model that can inspire girls to do anything they want to do. And the third view seems to be that of logical people. They realize that Barbie does portray some negative stereotypes, but yet is not responsible for all of the negative images of females.
The author is for the third position. She explains how she believes that Barbie does in some way teach girls to look up to the material things, but she also feels Barbie is a scapegoat that gets blamed for more than she should.